I awoke to my new life, to the strangers staring at me from the bed across the room, the two strangers I am now bound to. Life is, at this moment, a fantasy world; a world shrouded in darkness and magic. Growing up in this Age of Lore, I never expected to really be affected by it. I stay in towns and indoors at night and life is great. Now, I find out I am a witch, then separated from my family and bound into a coven.

Coven... That’s what witches call it when you are bound together, right? WTF...

I look around the strange room. It’s provincial, as in, not American country. It feels medieval country cottage; lace doilies, oil lamps, handcrafted art on the walls. Heck, I don’t know what medieval country cottage is… but, how else to describe my surrounds?

Shutters hang open in the window and the room glows softly with the morning sun. The ceiling beams are exposed and rough-hewn. That is the perfect description for all the furniture. The beds, chairs and a small table all look handmade.

I remember little after drinking from the chalice. This scares me. The room is creepy quiet and they sit there staring at me. Looking down at myself, I see I am in a stranger’s night gown. This old-fashioned thing is not mine. Grandmother insisted in upscale clothing and that included my sleeping attire. Now I had to wonder who dressed me. Looking back up, I see the understanding on Red’s face.

The one I tagged as Red starts talking first while pointing to the blond next to her, “My name is Circe and this is Jadis.”

Circe and Jadis are beautiful. Circe’s red hair is the color of glowing coals. She has it pulled back from her face with the curls cascading past her shoulders. Her hypnotic eyes glow blue in that heart-shaped face of freckles and cream. Her lipstick is deep red, matching the color of her cloak. That cloak is flung back across one shoulder, exposing the dress beneath, tight at the waist and exposing… um, yeah… a lot of boobs or am I supposed to call it cleavage?

Where Circe is voluptuous, Jadis is a wisp in comparison. Blond, chin-length hair with sweeping bangs, light-blue eyes, pale complexion and a heart-shaped face that ends with a slightly pointed chin. Jadis looks delicate and fragile. She wears a cloak like Circe’s, but is dressed very different. Modern and fashion model-like with designer jeans and a tiny black wrap around, sleeveless silk shirt with a deep plunging v-neck.

At least her boobs weren’t all over the place.

Pulling cards out of her cloak Jadis shuffles and cuts them. Staring at me intently she lays them out on the bed between her and Circe.

In a soft and gentle voice Jadis intones, “This is a simple Celtic Cross reading.”

I sit up, wrapping the blanket around myself and watch the cards as Jadis sets them out.

She murmurs the name of each card as she lays them face up, “Five of Swords, Page of Swords, Ten of Swords, The Tower, Inverted Empress, Devil and Ten of Pinnacles.”

Looking from the cards to Jadis, “I have no clue what you are talking about. The inverted thingy and the devil doesn’t sound friendly.”

Not feeling good about this.

Jadis just smiles serenely, “This reading covers your current state of mind and situation; your next three months, six months and the distant future of 1-3 years; your foundation and finally the last six months.”

“And… this means, what?”

Jadis stares intently at the cards and in a strange echoing voice whispers her predictions. “You need rest and contemplation. Acting in your own self-interest, you will cause discord. In the next three months, you will carry a sense of victim mentality. Following that are six months filled with paradoxes and contradictions. That leaves the distant future filled with sudden changes and revelations.”

Giving me an understanding look she continues, “The inverse empress reveals your foundation, a foundation of nature and the use of your senses. However, the devil implies there is impulsiveness, difficulty to reason with, and it seems, a severe issue with a strong mother figure… guess that would be your grandmother.”

She hastily continues, “Last, your past six months were in the mundane world. You felt affluent, had permanence and followed conventions.”

Circe grunts and in her husky voice filled with disdain states, “So, they bound us to a spoiled brat? Someone who will only care for herself?”

I speak up in a belligerent tone, “Well, how should I feel? I have every right to act anyway I want.”

Jadis, in her soft voice, interrupts Circe, “Peace, we need to remember that we are bound to each other.”

Looking at me with a peaceful gaze she continues, “We are bound and must learn to work together.”

In my own soft voice I plead, “Why is this happening to me?”

Circe decides to step into the conversation and in her husky voice says, “Look you ungrateful shit I am not happy with this. I was Damiana’s sole apprentice, now a great-granddaughter shows up and I am bound to her. How do you think I feel?”

With a fierce energy Circe stands and paces back and forth. The anger rolls off of her.

Whirling to Jadis, Circe grills her, “How can you be peaceful? How can you sit there serene? Damn you!”

Looking from Circe to Jadis, I ask “What will happen? Where do we go from here? What will happen to my mother and grandmother?”

Circe threw her hands up in the air continuing to pace the small room. “Oh, you are just going to love the next part! You are center stage for a ceremony with Jadis and I as your attendants. We can’t get out of it! We must take care of you. The theme for this wonderful event is: For what you feel, we feel.”

I see the revulsion and anger in Circe’s eyes.

“What the hell are you talking about? Jadis, what is she talking about?”

Jadis’s serene look now holds some resignation that wasn’t there a minute ago. “Damiana explained what your grandmother did to you.”

“I don’t understand that either, Damiana... uh, great-grandmother, said something about that last night.”

Jadis holds her hand up, stopping Circe from speaking and says, “It seems your grandmother, Glore, kept you on potions since your preteen years, stifling your powers. The ceremony will awaken your powers.”

“And what does Circe mean? What are you attending to?”

“We have a ceremonial robe for you to wear. Change into it and start drinking water. You will need it. Part of the ceremony purges your system of everything. Instead of waiting days or weeks for the effects to wear off, this will move the process along faster.”

As Jadis explains Circe moves to the small table and pours water into a clay cup.

Handing it to me, “Drink this and keep drinking.”

Taking the clay cup, “I am not putting on a ceremonial anything. No way. I am not taking part in any ceremony and Damiana can go to hell.”

Throwing her head back, Circe laughs. “Good luck with that attitude.” Smirking she continued, “One way or another, she will have you there. Now drink your water.”

Screw them. I am not getting out of this bed and that's finally. I meant what I said; I am not going.

The water was lukewarm tastes off. “Is this water fresh? And can’t I get it cold? Don’t you guys have ice cubes?”

Taking the cup and filling it back up Circe sneers, “Oh, the spoiled brat can’t handle warm water?” She hands the cup back to me with a challenging look.

Taking the cup and her challenge I throw the water back and down it. I still don’t like it. I like my water cold, but I won’t let her make me feel spoiled. We continue this back and forth with filling the cup and me drinking while Jadis brings in a long white robe with black accents.

The robe is simple, but elegant, like a kimono. The thick, pristine white fabric feels smooth with the stiff black edging material and matching wide sash that contrasts nicely. I wasn’t having any of it. I didn’t care if it looks and feel beautiful.

“Nope... not… uh, not goina, not going, not… what was I saying?” I wasn’t feeling right; I was hot, flushed, warm everywhere.

I could see Circe sneering as she grasps my hands to help me stand. Jadis helps Circe take off the nightshirt and wrap me in the robe.

“Now, uh, wait… clothes under the robe... uh, shouldn’t I have clothes on?” Jadis just smiles and shook her head no as Circe helps me drink more water.

They held my elbows and wrists, keeping me from falling and trying for a straight walk. It was glorious outside and my gaze focused everywhere but the path. It is a cool breezy day with the trees reaching for the sky. The limbs are so numerous that they block most of the morning sun. The trees are massive and I guess they are redwood trees. It is magical walking past ancient trees and through fern-covered paths to the large cave near the castle.

The cave entrance is large and gapping. They damn thing is scary like the stairs in the castle. It wants to goggle me up. Even in my drugged state, I noticed this detail. Walking through its maw and in to the gloom, soft candlelight flickers across the sparkling mineral rich walls. Incense and herbs swim upon the stale dank air. My warm drug-enhanced flush gives way to a wet bone-chilling cold that only caves have.

They walk me farther in following the line of candles and after much shuffling we arrive in a large cavern. People in robes stand quietly on various ledges. They wear cloaks with the hoods pulled forward, hiding their faces. They start a low chant barely above a whisper as I am ‘helped’ further into the large space.

Seeing an old stained rock alter a few hundred feet in front of our small group, I try pushing my heels into the stone floor. However, I can’t find traction to stop our forward movement. The drugs still have me. I try one last struggle, hoping to stay clear of Damiana and that alter. I don’t want to get closer to that alter, with its carved runes etched on every speck of its surface. Candles flicker on in, letting the wax flow freely down the sides. Finding it hard to fight my way through the haze, they pull me to a stop in front of Damiana. She stands there with a chalice in her hands.

Another chalice? Crap.

But, even in my drugged state I notice this is not a normal chalice. Its jewel studded metal sparkles in the flickering candlelight. Rough cuts gems lay inserted about the body. It is gaudy as hell and still scares the shit of me.

They force another potion down my throat and I despair at the situation. Its bitter taste pushes me over the edge of controlling my body. I feel the robe fall as Jadis and Circe lay me onto the cave floor. My sight won’t focus and the ceiling spins.

Damiana stands over me with her arms raised, “We are here today to bring a lost soul back into the fold. We are breaking through the bindings and potions poisoning her body. Raise your hands, raise your magic and raise your will to aid this ceremony.”

At some point I come back to my senses shaking and hot with clothes wiping my body down and cold water falling along my skin. I try moving my arms and legs but find my limbs bound while they hold another cup to my lips.

Repeatedly I try waking fully, but I only came back to bonds, wiping clothes and cold water. And cups, always cups, forcing me to drink.